Twelve Australians in ‘miracle’ Japan Airlines escape

Twelve Australians were among the lucky escapees of a Japan Airlines flight that burst into flames minutes after the plane was evacuated of all 379 passengers.

Flames on the tarmac are seen from inside the JAL plane after the crash. Picture: X

Twelve Australians were among the lucky escapees of a Japan Airlines flight that burst into flames minutes after all 379 passengers were evacuated.

The JAL plane collided with a Japan Coast Guard plane at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, killing five of the six people on-board the maritime patrol aircraft. The 39-year-old captain survived.

A Coast Guard official said their plane was headed to Niigata on Japan’s west coast to deliver supplies to those caught up in a devastating New Year’s Day earthquake, which has killed at least 55 people.

All 367 passengers, including eight infants, and 12 crew members of the JAL Airbus A350 escaped. At least 17 people on the passenger plane were injured, four of whom were taken to hospital, according to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that 12 Australians were on the flight but that none was injured.

“Our hearts go out to our friends in Japan, both for the impact of the earthquake that has seen a considerable loss of life … In addition to that, tragically, there was a plane crash at Haneda Airport in Tokyo soon after that earthquake that with a involved a plan providing support for the earthquake,” the PM said. “We understand that there were 12 Australians on board that Japan Airlines flight. But all of those people are safe and accounted for.”

The airliner departed New Chitose Airport at 4.20pm on January 2, and was scheduled to arrived at Haneda Airport about 5.40pm, where it was given permission to land as normal on the runway, JAL managing executive officer Noriyuki Aoki said.